About Onis 2

Robin Edwards, former deputy lead for the National Metal Theft Taskforce, left the service in June to join Alchemy as national infrastructure manager for metal theft. After several months with Alchemey Edwards has moved has launched Onis Consulting.

Robin told MRW that his time at the metals recycler had allowed him to learn about the “nitty-gritty” of the scrap metal industry after a police career that focused on the more unsavoury side of the business.

“I was given full unfettered access to every aspect of their business and gained a wealth of experience from the highly trained team that operate at their Stevenage site.”

After helping to set up Alchemy’s infrastructure division, Edwards says he will continue to advise the company “on this important project on an ongoing basis”.

“My role is to help and support industry, to not only prevent metal theft and protect its assets, but ensure it has the right processes in place to prevent under weighing, downgrading and questionable contamination claims, which in reality are common place.

“This support will also extend to the guardians of our heritage and businesses that are committed to improving the way they operate.”

Robin first became involved in tackling metal theft in 2010 when infrastructure companies such as Network Rail, BT and various energy networks were having their services impacted by metal thieves.

He was the national project lead for Operation Tornado, reducing metal theft by 44% in its first year, and was involved in the initial draft legislation and subsequent implementation of the 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act.

The gas industry is increasingly being targeted by thieves who sell their assets to unscrupulous scrap dealers or export from the UK. There is also the increased threat of CT activity which brings new challenges to this sector.

Click here to find out more and to see alarming footage of the potentially fatal consequences when gas supply pipes are stolen.